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Free Church of Scotland

the name assumed by the large number of ministers and their adherents who left the Scottish Establishment at the "Disruption" of May 18, 1843. They had seceded in vindication of what they called the "Headship of Christ," i. e., to gain liberty to obey what they deemed the will of their Divine Lord in all Church arrangements. When the disruption took place, the financial difficulties which the secessionists had to face were very formidable. Wherever the Free Church had adherents, which was in nearly every parish, fresh places of worship had to be provided for the ministers whose stipends were gone. All the Scottish established missionaries to the Jews or the Gentiles, having joined the seceding party, had to be provided for. Theological colleges had also to be built, day schools and manses provided in connection with the several churches. One part of the financial arrangements which has attracted most notice, was the sustentation fund.